How often can you legally change your name?
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M$3 Answers
You can't change your name:
1) with intent to avoid legal obligations;
2) with intent to commit a crime; or
3) with intent to mislead, as when choosing the name of a celebrity (unless you have a convincing reason for choosing the name irrespective of the celebrity).
Moreover, you can't choose:
1) confusing constructions, such as those that might include numbers or punctuation;
2) racial slurs;
3) other words that incite violence.
In most states, you needn't change your name through a court order but can change it through usage. It's advisable to learn the requirements of your state. If your state is a "usage" state, it's also advisable to contact various institutions to find out each one's requirement for submitting a name change. The Nolo link provides a list of institutions to contact.
In the late 1980s, while living in Utah, I elected to change my last name, and one letter in my middle name, for aesthetic reasons. I tried out my chosen name (not Shinju, which is my Mahalo name), for awhile, before seeking a court order. I hadn't researched Utah law to learn if Utah was a "usage" state. However, since I intended to use the name for the rest of my life, the court process was preferred because it made my new name "official" and easy to enforce. I still keep the court order as a matter of record.
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Nolo.com: Name-change FAQs
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/faqEditorial-29091.html#2
personal experience
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
I was reading this on Wikipedia and when it says "incite a crime" I don't really see how a name change could cause a crime? It's just a name right?
These comments made me think....hmmm what sort of name might "incite a crime" and at first I was stumped. After a bit of mental meandering I thought I would not want to have the name "Fire" or "Bomb" because of the difficulties these names might cause when screamed at a busy airport or crowded theater.
If I interfered with a serious discussion with my attempt at expressing how I found this funny I sincerely apologize. I'm not trying to make light of this at all.
When you say "incite a crime," I'm not sure if you're taking your example from Wikipedia or if you're equivocating on two of the examples given--"intent to commit a crime" and "other words that incite violence." If it's the former, can you please include the Wikipedia link so that I can look at it?
Budda: LOL!